Year 9 Rugby Union team come close to upset!

The Sirius Academy Year 9 Rugby Union team came within minutes of causing an upset in the RFU Yorkshire Cup 2nd Round before eventually falling to an 18-15 defeat at Hymers College. The boys despite only playing in their 2nd ever Rugby Union game, more than matched their more experienced opponents throughout the match, and leading by five points in the final five minutes of the game, were on the wrong end of some referee decisions which unfortunately saw them lose out in an exciting match. The boys attention now turns back to Rugby League were they face St Wilfred's Catholic High (Wakefield) on Wednesday afternoon in the Champion Schools Yorkshire Cup Quarter-Final.

The match could not have started any better for Sirius who on their first attack saw the ball moved wide through Mikey Lewis, George Tyson-Wilson and Joe Petty who found Joseph Coates who finished off using great speed from forty metres out for a 5-0 lead. The game then turned into a technical match with constant scrums and kicking, something the Sirius boys are not used to playing League. Hymers crossed twice after sustained pressure for a 10-5 lead. The Sirius defence was well led by Kai Thorpe, Tom Jordan, Jay Kirkland, Ryan Addinnall and Callum Whilsher. In attack Tyson-Wilson, Brad Elliott, Josh Lomax and Josh Atkinson were taking the ball up strongly with Kieran Sewell and Lewis Hewitt distributing well.

The 2nd half saw Sirius make the game a quick match once again which saw a great break from Sewell supported well Luke Moss who found Petty to cross outwide for 10-10. Sirius kept up the pressure and a long pass from Lomax saw Elliott break and his quick release gave Atkinson the chance to send over Harry Storr for a 15-10 lead. With time ticking away Declan Jackson, Josh Kirby and Connor Cape-Melbourne continued to battle hard however several penalties saw Sirius defending their own line which eventually led to a Hymers score for 15-15. With three minutes left, again penalties saw Sirius concede one under their own posts which was converted for the 18-15 score-line.

Special thanks to Cosi Basile for driving the boys and his support with the team during the match.

Please congratulate the following boys on their attitude and success so far this year: